ns 


PRICE 10 CE NTS, 


Missionary 
Cameralogs 


Assam 


AMERICAN BAPTIST 


FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY 
BOSTON, MASS. 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 


HE photographs from which the illustrations 

in this sketch were made were supplied by 
Rev. G. G. Crozier, M. D., of Tura, Rev. Walter 
C. Mason of Tura, Rev. P. E. Moore of Tika 
and Rev. C. H. Tilden, of Jorhat. Grateful ac- 
knowledgement is also made of the editorial 
assistance rendered by Dr. Crozier and Mr. 
Tilden. 


= 


Pie Oi | Cos er N Dye P EG EO RAs 


Sie ieleh's 


ASSAM 


Il. 


IIL. 


IV. 


A PEEP THROUGH THE LENS-- 
showing at a glance the people and 
country. 


Time. ExposuRE— 
being a more minute consideration 
of the land and people. 


DEVELOPING— 


giving a resumé of the beginnings 
of missions in Assam. 


FINISHING ToUCHES— 


showing the present missionary 


work. 


PeATR Lae A PEEP THROUGH THE Ube 


Native Village in the Hills of Assam 


@) Assam is one of the provinces of British India. 


©) Ii lies south of Tibet, the Gibraltar of the non- 


Christian world, between Burma and Bengal. 


©) Its position is strategic; it is one of the pathways 


of civilization into central Asia. 


©) The country has an area a little smaller than New 


England and a population half a million larger. 


pee eb Pe RIO UG Hy st HE SLE N's BVAS Re taal 


Foreign Residences among the Hills 


© The people of Assam converse in 167 different 


languages. 


©) There are no cities in the province, only six towns of 
10,000 and some 27,000 villages. Etghty-five per cent 


of the population are engaged in agriculture. 


©) There is little extreme poverty in Assam; the people 
are well off on twelve to twenty cents a day. 
© Cherapunji in Assam has the largest known rainfall 


in the world. 


(SS) 


ReAGR Staal A PEEP THROUGH LEE ees 


A River among the Mountains 


I. A Peep Through the Lens 


THE unknown is always alluring; so should the study 
ot a country be that is seldom read about, seldom visited, 
infrequently mentioned. Assam is sucha country. Lying 
off the highway of trade and travel, almost exclusive in 
its retirement beyond the hills, it has received less at- 
tention and publicity than other Oriental countries but it 
is, nevertheless, a land of interest and importance. 

It is a small country in the extreme northeast of India, 
locked in by mountains, having its chief outlet through the 
great Brahmaputra valley to Calcutta, the second city of 
the empire. The country may best be described in two 
words—mountains and plains; mountains to the north, 
east and south peopled by savage and sturdy tribes: and 
between the ranges an expanse of flat, fertile land, extend- 
ing 450 miles, watered by the Brahmaputra and many 


4 


Ae Po obo ROUGH TA E~VEN.S PA Rete 


smaller streams. The mountains are filled with wild men 
whose hearts are accessible and responsive. They number 
over one million in our Baptist territory. The plains are 
more densely populated with proud Hindus, bigoted and 
faithful Mohammedans and despised outcastes, who ag- 
eregate three million 
in the Baptist field. 

The position of the 
country is strategic. 
At the very door of 
Tibet, the last land to 
be opened to Chris- 
tianity, and close to 
western China, it is 
one of the pathways 
of civilization toward 
Cemtiarmisia. 9 Lhe 
pass of the Hima- 
layas through which 
the people of Asia 
early entered India 
and which is sup- 
posed to be the most 
practicable pass of 
the whole range is 1n 
the northern corner 
of the province; and 
communication with 
western China may 
soon be made easy One Type of Native 
by the building of a 
proposed railroad which will run through Assam and 
upper Burma. 

Large sections of the population of Assam are of mixed 
origin though there can be found a few tribes of pure 
Mongolian descent. Centuries ago through the north- 


5 


PeATRe ae A -—PEEP THROUGH# TH EXE 


eastern and northwestern mountain passes came crowds of 
people from the borders of China and Burma en route to 
India proper and many of them stopped in the attractive 
valleys of Assam 
and became 
merged with the 
original inhabi- 
tants, Selene 
thirteenth cen- 
tury, by these 
same routes, the 
Ahoms_ entered 
and dominated 
the country for 
500 years, giving 
to the province 
its name.) ihe 
more recent im- 
migrationaG: 
coolies from cen- 
tral . India; secs 
casioned by the 
extensive tea 1n- 
dustry, is adding 
still another type 
to the already 
diversified popu- 
lation. 

The, people 
number Jovem 
seven million, 
six million in the plains and approximately one in the hill 
districts. The valley dwellers are engaged almost entirely 
in agriculture and working in the tea gardens and, unlike 
the natives of many other parts of India, are fairly well off 
though they average only from twelve to twenty cents a 


6 


r a - —— — > — ~ ———— 


A Girl of the Valleys 


Pee bre re Pee ebeR OU G Hee. HE SL ENS PAR Tait 


day in wages. In civilization they range from the highest 
culture to the basest ignorance but superstition, the fruit 
of the most common religions, Hinduism, Mohammedan- 
ism and Animism, holds all classes in a pitifully strong grip. 

The country in climate is tropical though it lies very 
largely in the temperate zone and the excessive vegetation 
and decay, due to the abundant rainfall during six months 
of the year, breed mos- 
quitos which cause much 
malaria and fever. After 
October the rain gives 
way to steady sunshine 
interrupted only by the 
early morning fogs over 
the rivers. The largest 
known rainfall in the world 
occurs at a village in the 
Assam hills. Dense jun- 
gles, sheltering tigers, 
leopards, monkeys, wild 
elephants and other ani- 
mals, cover the sloping 
hills while fields of tea and 
rice stretch for miles in the 
plains. 

The mixed origin of the 
people and the exclusive- 
ness of the tribes have re- 
sulted in the growth of 167 
different languages. Fre- 
quently in the hills neigh- In the Jungles 
boring villagers cannot 
converse. The hardest eee of foreigners is to master a 
reasonable number of tongues and reduce the spoken 
dialects to written vernacular that will be intelligible 
to many. 


PA Ra? I TIME EXP OS URE 


Native Homes 


©) The motto of Assam is, “Never do today what you 
can do tomorrow.” 

©) The people fall into three classes—(1) the savage 
tribes of the hills; (2) the coolies and ex-coolies of 
the tea gardens and other outcastes; (3) the Hindus 
and Mohammedans of the plains. 


© Less than 5% of the people can read and write; of 
women, one in every 380. 


@) The country, drained by the Brahmaputra and its 
tributaries, 1s the bed of more rivers than any other 
section of its size in the world. 


©) The hill tribes were savage head-hunters before mis- 
stonartes entered their territoy. 
8 


TIME EXPOSURE DIASRVLae Ut 


Rapid Transit in Assam 


©) Sick and dying people are often treated most cruelly 
because of superstition and ignorance of scientific 
medical methods. 


©) Three religions are common in the country— Hin- 
duism, “the most degrading religion in the world,” 
Mohammedanism, and Animism or spirit-worship. 


©) Tea estates cover 1820 square miles—larger than 
Rhode Island. Working on them are 170,234 
coolies (equal to the population of New Hampshire 
and Vermont). 


©) 175,000,000 pounds of tea are shipped annually 
from Assam; a “‘small” tea garden employs 1000 
coolies. 


PART I TIME EXPOSURE 


CK Guat 
Vw 


S. 


NS 
MQWag KK 
FE SRARWY 
AQ 
SV 


Map of the Province Showing Baptist Stations 


ES TOMBE IoD, CONS AO NS a) 


The outline of Assam, including the Surma as well as the 
Brahmaputra valley and the vast hill regions, is somewhat 
similar to that of India as the accompanying map shows. 
The province covers 61,471 square miles besides containing 
much territory not under government control. The Surma 
or southern valley is separated from the northern river 
bed by a spur of the Himalayas, called the Assam range. 
The Brahmaputra river, flowing along the entire northern 
stretch is navigable the whole year for large steamers 
and makes a natural highway for the extensive commerce 
of the province. With its sixty tributaries it forms a 
network of more rivers than are found in any other section 
of its size in the world. The entire valley with a large 


10 


alsin en exe >) OFS sUn ROE, BeAS Rated 


portion of the hill tracts north and south is exclusively 
Baptist ground. The Surma valley is occupied by several 
other denominations. 

Assam has been a battle ground of religions as of races, 
and the result is a conglomerate photograph. Before the 
introduction of Christianity, Hinduism, Mohammedanism 
and Animism, with a shght sprinkling of Buddhism, held 
sway with Hinduism controlling fifty per cent. of the popu- 
lation. Hinduism is said to be ‘the most degrading religion 
in the world. The Saktist doctrine which some of the 
Assamese Hindus follow 
with notorious zeal teaches 
“that the lusts of the flesh 
prevent communion with 
God and that the best way 
to overcome them is to 1n- 
dulge them to satiety.” 
Frequently the “holy 
men’’ are the vilest men 
inthe district. Under 
such an immoral code it 
is little wonder that much 
of the living is on a low 
plane. A few lines from a 
Hindu catechism show 
the condition of the women 
who live in the atmosphere 
of such beliefs. Ques. — 
What is the chief gate of 
hell? Ans. —A woman. 
Ques.—Who is the wisest of : : 
the wise? Ans.—He who 
has not been deceived by 
a woman. Ques.—What are fetters tomen? Ans——Women. 
Many of the Hindus, however, donot subscribe to this creed. 

Mohammedanism is faithfully followed among one 


Hindu ‘‘Holy Men” (not priests) 


11 


PART Teel TIME EXP OSURe 


quarter of the population and the vices so characteristic 
of the followers of the prophet are indulged in extensively. 
Animism is the religion of the hill tribes and holds the 
people in a bondage of fear for it teaches that evil spirits 
lurk everywhere and need constant conciliation. 

The people of the plains are distressingly indolent. 
They are satisfied if their bullock carts make two miles an 
hour and all labor which 
can be postponed is laid 
over till the next day— 
or the next. Less than 
five per cent. of the pop- 
ulation can read or write; 
of women, only one in 
o00, There is at) present 
in all India an intellectual 
movement, the product of 
Christian mission schools 
and government educa- 
tion, which is vastin 
changing this proportion 
of illiteracy. Superstition 
is prevalent among all 
classes and religions. The 
Hindu will not use the 
Christian’s implements in 
work for fear of his gods; 
the spirit-worshipers will 
not plant a certain fruit 
tree, believing that death 
will follow. The tribes of 
the hills are very crude 
and in many cases savage. 
In fear of the spirits and 
in ignorance of physiological facts they commit all sorts 
of cruelties and absurdities. In one tribe when a person 


A Gentleman of the Hills 


12 


feu Me bee bx OSU RE 12 fd Jee 40 JD 


Naga House Decorations 


dies the family of the deceased is turned out of the 
doomed house and all the property is destroyed to ap- 
pease the angry spirit who was responsible for the death. 
In another, dying people are yelled at and shaken 
violently; the bodies of sick babies are cut by anxious 
mothers who try in this way to release the spirit that is 
causing the illness; among the Ao Nagas the dead are 
not buried but are suspended over fires in the houses 
for weeks before being placed in rude sheds just outside 
the village. The final resting places are decorated with 
human skulls procured for the occasion. Christians among 
these people now bury their dead. 

In color and physique the people differ as widely as do 
Americans, due to the mixture of races. There are black 
skins and light, bodies stocky and slender, apparel ranging 
from nothing at all to up-to-date European garb. No 
distinct type is found as is the case in other Oriental 
countries. 


PrA Rela DEVELOP ENG 


Permanent ss SSS 


One Method of Travel in Assam 


© The Assam Mission was the second mission estab- 
lished by the Baptists of America. 


©) The first missionaries to Assam entered an almost 
unknown, unvisited territory; only a few government 
officers had preceded them. 


© The first mission station was opened in the extreme 
northeastern corner of the province, the farthest possible 
point from familiar ground. 


©) Some of the stations were started in response to ap- 
peals or suggestions from the government. 
14 


DEVELOPING IPP AG Ra Uae LLL 


A Mission Bungalow 


© The pioneer missionary to the Naga Hills went 
among the wild men without government protection and 
im the face of official warning. 


©) Of the 70,234 coolies on the tea estates, approxi- 
mately 4000 are Baptist Christians. 


© The once wild tribes of the hills now supply a large 
proportion of the converts. 


©) The spirit-worshipers are very responsive to the 
Christian teaching. The Hindus and Mohammedans 
are more inaccessible. 

15 


PART Il DEVELOPING 


Native Crafts and Modern Steamships 


III. DEVELOPING 


To these people who peculiarly blended refinement 
and barbarism, culture and superstition, two Baptist mis- 
sionaries of Burma, Mr. O. T. Cutter and Rev. Nathan 
Brown journeyed in 1836. In their frequent explorations 
from Burma they had come upon the hill people of Assam 
to the north and west and had been greatly attracted to 
them. Inquiries brought from the government officers the 
strongest appeal to undertake a missionamong them so Mr. 
Cutter and Mr. Brown determined to make the attempt. 

With their families they went to Calcutta and began the 
long journey up the Brahmaputra river in frail native 
crafts, passing through schools of crocodiles and turtles 
‘n the treacherous currents of the river and reaching their 
destination, Sadiya, six months after starting. It is worth 
noting that they did not venture just over the border in 
their first visit but traveled boldly to a point in the extreme 
northeastern part of the province, a region that is now 
visited daily by steamers making the trip in two weeks. 


16 


DEVELOPING ID AUT A 10 


A school was opened almost immediately and within a 
week had enrolled twenty boys, five of whom were learning 
English with ‘eagerness truly astonishing.’”’ Other 
schools were started in villages near by and zayats were 
built along the roadside for preaching. A printing press 
was set up and in less than two years time, eleven books 
and parts of the gospel of Matthew had been prepared and 
printed in Assamese. 

The Board and home churches followed the new mis- 
sionaries with interest and in 1837 Rev. Jacob Thomas and 
Rev. Miles Bronson, D.D., with their wives, left America 
to join the pioneers. They started on the journey up the 
Brahmaputra at an unfavorable time when malaria was 
rife and rain was too abundant. Dr. Bronson was taken 
seriously ill en route and Mr. Thomas, hoping to obtain 
medical aid at Sadiya, pushed on alone when his boatmen 
refused to continue the journey. Within sight of the 


A School Compound 


17 


PeACR cae DEVELOPING 


mission house his boat was sunk by a falling tree and 
Mr. Thomas was drowned. So the remaining new mis- 
sionaries who were safely escorted to Sadiya after the 
accident began their work under the shadow of a tragedy. 

In the following spring, Dr. and Mrs. Bronson left 
Sadiya to open a station at Jaipur, the seat of the new tea 
industry, and in less than a year the other missionaries 
followed them. Work at 
\ 3 . Sadiya had become impos- 

sible, for rumors of war and 
ie meme) assacres had _ frightened 
the natives from the sec- 
tion. With this removal to 
the new station another 
chapter of the history was 
begun. 

These first efforts had 
been made among the peo- 
ple of the plains. The hill 
tribes, notoriously savage 
and defiant, were untouched 
until 1839when Dr. Bronson 
made a trip to the Naga 
Hills. Here, he was given a 
reluctant welcome and was 
kept waiting three days out- 
side a village gate. The 
next year, with his wife and 
Rev.and Mrs.Cyrus Barker 
and Miss Bronson, he set- 
‘| tled in the strange village 

Goabets but soon after, because of 

the death of Miss Bronson 

and because of much sickness among them all, he and 
his companions returned to Jaipur. 

Thirty years elapsed after this brief sojourn before Rev. 


18 


* 


«9 Seah : wat gy 


TIME EXPOSURE PeAGRelew iil 


E. W. Clark, D.D., of Sibsagor in the plains, determined to 
settle in the distant hills, though he must do so without 
government protection and in the face of warnings from 
the Assamese Christians. Godhula, Dr. Clark’s native 
teacher, catching his master’s enthusiasm, volunteered to 
make the first venture and tactfully and slowly ap- 
proached a savage village. Here, after months of risky 
experiences, he won the partial confidence of the people 
and made it possible for Dr. Clark to take up permanent 
abode there, the first white man to do this. 

Those who have seen 
what the dwelling of a 
naked, unwashed Naga 
savage is like can best pic- 
ture what must have been 
the inconvenience suffered 
by Dr. Clark during the 
seven and a half months 
he shared the house of 
some Naga bachelors. In 
spite of repeated outbursts 
against him and _ threat- 
ened death he remained 
until he had gained a band 
of faithful followers who 
left their native village and 
set up a Christian com- 
munity. In this way 
Molung village, a com- 
munity of converts, was 
established in the Naga 
Hills and Mrs. Clark was A Naga Warrior 
carried up the precipitous 
mountain slopes to join her husband in the work. Her 
account of their twenty-five years of service in the wilds, 
found in ‘‘A Corner In India,’ reads like a romance. 


19 


DE AG Ra hae LV) FINISHING 7. O UM IES 


A Christian Association 


©) Baptists are responsible for three fifths of the area of 
Assam and four sevenths of the population plus the 
uncounted tribes on the northeastern frontier. 


© The population of the Baptist territory is about four 
and a half million; the religions met are five in number; 
the missionaries use fifteen languages. 


© There are thirteen Baptist stations, sixty-seven 
missionaries and 428 native workers. 


©) There are only four physicians in this number. 


20 


PeleNe lo pdeliNeGel OhU) CHES JO INTE AR IN 


Kindergarten at Nowgong 


© Industrial schools and workshops have been es- 
tablished as well as regular schools, hospitals, dis- 
pensaries and churches. 

©) Eigty two of the 161 churches are self-supporting 
and some have evangelists on the freld. 


©) Baptist endeavor has met with marked success since 
the beginning. 


©) Still, among four and a half million people, two hos- 
pitals, three dispensaries, four doctors and sixty seven 
missionaries (counting the wives), are inadequate. 
© 78,861 hill people and 377,000 plains people are 
quite untouched. 


21 


PEAY Relay, FINISHING TOUMHEe 


IVa EINIS HEN GaOU GHES 


Baptists are responsible for more than three-fifths of the 
area of Assam besides some territory beyond the boundary, 
and for over four-sevenths of its population — or four and 
a half million people. To meet this opportunity we have 
thirteen stations: Goalpara, Gauhati, Nowgong, Gola- 
ghat, Jorhat, Sibsagor, North Lakhimpur and Sadiya in the 
plains; and Tura, Tika, Kohi- 
ma, Impur and Ukhrul in the 
hills (see map page 10). Sixty- 
seven missionaries, counting 
the twenty-eight wives of 
missionaries, are in charge. 

The work falls under two 
heads, namely :—for the people 
of the plains and for the people 
of the hills. 

The people of the plains are 
Hindus, Mohammedans or out- 
castes. Work among the first 
two classes has never been 
entirely successful for several 
reasons. Hinduism with its 
caste rules of iron, with its 
over-bearing and_ enslaving 
priesthood and its weak con- 
ception of sin makes progress 
difficult in the winning of its 
votaries to a better faith. 
Mohammedanism, though not 

HevgLonstans am Eveneoust so wide-spread, possesses faith- 

ful and bigoted adherents who 
are almost unapproachable. In addition to this the small 
number of missionaries, and the lack of training in thenative 
helpers have crippled aggressive work. The efforts for these 


22 


FINISHING TOUCHES PART IV 


people have naturally been more or less overshadowed by 
the very fruitful work among the outcastes, or the coolies 
and ex-coolies of the tea gardens, who are much more re- 
sponsive and have therefore received greater attention. 
These coolies are almost entirely immigrants from central 
India who have been recruited in large numbers for the 
extensive and prosperous tea industry of Assam. Having, 
in many cases, received some Christian instruction before 
leaving India, they are eager to hear more of the gospel; 
and in the strain of adjustment to new ways they are 
very grateful for the advice and aid which the mission- 
aries offer. Work for them was begun in Sibsagor in 1871 
and is now carried on from Sibsagor, North Lakhimpur, 
Golaghat, and Nowgong. These 
people, coming in great num- 
bers to remain as permanent 
residents, will have a powerful 
influence on upper Assam. 

The Christians of the plains 
have formed six associations 
which employ evangelists and 
meet regularly for mutual en- 
couragement and aid. The 
majority of the members are 
outcastes. 

The tribes in the hills are so 
distinct from each other in 
language and customs that 
work undertaken for one 
tribe cannot be applied to 
another, and numerous and 
separate fields are therefore 
necessary. This work is now School Cul 
carried on among the Garos from Tura and Gauhati; 
among the Rabhas from Goalpara; the Mikirs from Tika 
and Golaghat; the Nagas from Impur, Kohima, and Ukhrul 


23 


— 


DeAGR Ss Dammely) EENIS HUNG? ft OUI HSS 


Men of the Mikir Tribe 


and among the Abor, Miri, Mishmi, Kampti, and Singphos 
tribes from Sadiya. To make the situation clear it is neces- 
sary to give separate accounts of these distinct enterprises. 

The Garo work, which is the largest in Assam, was 
initiated by two Garo men, rather than by missionaries. 
As early as 1847 a young Garo student in the government 
school, named Ramkhe, found a tract and became in- 
terested in Christianity. It was not until 1863, however, 
that he and a companion, Omed, sought instruction from 
an evangelist and upon conversion became messengers to 
their people. The first Garo church was organized in 1867 
by Dr. Bronson and a permanent station was established 
at Goalpara with Rev. I. J. Stoddard and Mrs. Stoddard in 
charge. But this endeavor was made for the few Garos 
scattered in the plains near Goalpara. Nothing so far had 
been done for the wild Garos of the hills who, because of 
their persistent head-hunting propensities, had been 
brought under government control. The government 


24 


Me Nelomt.t NiGe lOU CHES PIA RSLaS LV: 


officers, after several vain attempts to subdue their unruly 
and altogether uncontrollable subjects, appealed to the 
missionaries for cooperation. In response Rev. M. C. 
Mason, D.D., and Rev. E. G. Phillips, D.D., went into the 
Garo Hills and began the work at Tura that has resulted in 
such wide-spread success. 

Tura is the seat of government for the Garo Hill District. 
The district’s population includes 140,000 Garos who are 
savages for the most part and Animists, but quite inde- 
pendent in spirit. When converted, they are eager to take 
initiative in church work and responsibility for evangeliz- 
ing their own and other tribes. 

The Rabhas are a partially Hinduized, animistic tribe 
living in the plains at the foot of the Garo Hills. Goalpara 
was reopened in 1898 for work among these people and 
though several schools have been started and a number of 


Burning Sacrifices 


25 


PARSE FINISHING TOUGH 


converts baptized, progress is impossible at present for 
no missionary has been able to give his time to them for 
several years. 
*| The Mikirs, an 
animistic tribe of 
100,000, inhabit a 
hilly tract near 
our long occupied 
station, Nowgong. 
Work was begun 
for them in 1859 
/ .-3| but because Vor 
eee «sickness and sine: 
A Village Church quent necessary 
change of mission- 
aries the work was inadequately sustained and the mission 
lost the confidence of the natives. In the early nineties, 
however, Rev. P. E. Moore.and Rev. J. M. Carvell located 
at Tika for work among the Mikirs alone and they won 
back the people and established a successful church. Later 
Mr. Carvell removed to Golaghat to conduct work for 
Mikirs of that section. 

Among the Nagas in upper Assam the division into 
many tribes and the diversity of languages have made 
work difficult but, like the other animistic people, these 
are welcoming the gospel. Abundant results are being 
achieved. The work is being conducted from three 
different stations —Impur, the successor of the first 
station of the hill country, Molung village; Kohima, the 
seat of government for the Naga District; and Ukhrul, in 
the nominally independent state of Manipur. The first 
permanent station among these people was opened by 
Dr. E. W. Clark, as before mentioned. Kohima was also 
opened largely through his influence and financial help. 
Impur reaches the Aos, Lhotas, Semas and other sur- 
rounding tribes; Kohima, the Angami, which is the 


26 


uN HUNG TOUCHES BPA Ryle 


strongest of the thirty Naga tribes of upper Assam, and 
others; and Ukhrul reaches the Tangkhuls and Kukis. 
Work for the Manipuris who 
rule over the Tangkhuls and 
Kukis has so far been 
impossible because of the 
hostility of the officials of 
Manipur state. This state won 
notoriety in 1891 by treach- 
erously massacring the chief 
commissioner of Assam and 
several other British officers 
and it was this act that led 
Rev. William Pettigrew and 
two English missionaries to 
locate on. the border of the 
state preparatory to opening 
a station. Mr. Pettigrew’s 
school, later taken out of his 
‘hands, was largely attended 
at first, and his educational 
system was adopted by the 
Manipur Government. He, 
however, for some years has 
not been allowed to work nor 
to live in the Manipur state 
and has had to confine his 
efforts to the Tangkhul Nagas in the surrounding hill 
districts. The isolation of Ukhrul from medical assistance 
makes it necessary for him to reside, temporarily at least, 
in Kohima. 

The Abors and Miris, being independent of British con- 
trol, are not included in the census and their numbers are 
therefore not known; but there are many of them and they 
are very inviting for mission work. The Abors are pure 
spirit worshipers, but the Miris in the plains have become 


27 


An Evangelist of the Hills 


PTA ReleeLy: FINISHING 1OU CHES 


Hinduized. Their station is Sadiya which was reopened 
about 1900 by Mr. Arthington, an English independent 
missionary worker. The mission was transferred to the 
American Baptist Society 1n 1905 and Rev. L. W. B. Jack- 
man and Rev. H. W. Kirby, M.D., were stationed there. 
They reach also the people of other tribes in that section. 
Situated as it is, near the best pass into Tibet and not far 
from West China, this station offers unbounded possi- 
bilities for the regions beyond. 


EVANGELISM 


Proclaiming and imparting the gospel is the great aim 
of all departments of the work. Whether the missionaries 
preach in the market place, teach school or develop in- 
dustrial plants, the aim is always the same — to evangelize 
and teach others to evangelize. 

The converts in the mission are organized into churches 
which on the older fields to a good degree have pastors and 
are self-supporting. Churches are grouped in seven associa- 
tions, four in the hills and three in the plains, which meet 
annually for inspiration and encouragement and the 
discussion of plans. Through these “associations the 
churches engage and support evangelists and give funds 
for the educational work of the field. Many evangelists 
are maintained but a far greater number should be 
trained. More than 78,000 hills people and 370,000 plains 
people are still untouched by Christian activities. Hope 
for their evangelization lies in the Christian natives. 


EDUCATION 


Educational work has been conducted from the first. 
The missionaries look upon it as a great opportunity 
offered them by the circumstances and needs of the 
situation. The hillmen were found without even a written 
language and the immigrant peoples are almost equally 


28 


Pio HiNG TOUCHES PA ReTetv 


A Mission Launch at Sadiya 


illiterate. Not only must facilities be supplied but the 
people must be stimulated to use them when supplied 
and the missionary has proven to be well qualified to 
administer this stimulant. Thus education is emphati- 
cally and efficiently evangelistic; the Christian school 
taught by the Christian teacher is often the nucleus around 
which the Christian community and church develop. 

In the Assam Educational Policy, we read, “‘It 1s a legiti- 
mate use of mission resources to expend them in educating 
those who are neglected in the public school system if, in 
establishing mission schools for these neglected people, the 
two-fold aim of leading the pupils to Christ and of the 
formation of Christian character predominates together 
with a third and subordinate aim of diffusing Christian 
ideals throughout the community.”’ 

Most of the education is primary, aiming 1n the villages 
to give, besides religious instruction, a workable knowledge 
of reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition to these 
lower grade schools there are five of higher grade at Tura, 
Kohima, Ukhrul, Impur and Jorhat. 

The last is the Jorhat Christian Schools, for boys only, 


29 


PaAL Realy, FINISHING TOUCHES 


Gauhati School Babies 


consisting of a School of Bible Instruction, to produce a 
trained Christian ministry, the School of Academic 
Instruction and School of Work, to produce trained Chris- 
tianlaymen. These are all of high school grade and receive 
pupils from the primary mission schools. 

At Nowgong, half way between the most eastern and 
most western of our stations, a high grade school is con- 
ducted which serves the whole Assam Mission with the 
exception of the Garos. It isa girl’s school with a normal 
department and a kindergarten. Boarding schools are 
operated at North Lakhimpur and Sadiya, Golaghat and 
Gauhati, the latter being supported by the Woman’s 
Society. The Gauhati school for girls is conducted on the 
dormitory plan with girls of all ages, from kindergartners 
to young women, living in small cottages that are grouped 
about the chapel and teachers’ residence. The discipline 
is in the hands of the students and with their regular 
studies they receive training in homework which proves of 
wide-spread value when the girls return to their com- 
munities. 

Rev.W.E. Witter,D.D.,and Mrs. Witter carry ona unique 
work at Gauhati among the students of Cotton College, a 
government institution drawing men from all Assam. They 


30 


MouNio HIN G LOUCHES PAL Re bee Ly 


have made of their home a social center where the students 
come in large numbers to read and to talk over matters of 
spiritual interest. This particular work, reaching as it 
does the prospective leaders of the country, is one of the 
most hopeful endeavors in Assam. Plans for a large and 
well-equipped hostel where personal work can be done 
among the Christian students and others who are housed 
in it are being considered. 


MEDICAL WORK 


Medical work is indispensable on such a field, especially 
among the spirit-worshipers who have been used to 
sacrificing in order to escape illness and after conversion 
still look to their religious teachers in times of sickness. 
The people in both plains and hills are ignorant of the first 
principles of cleanliness and care of the body and most of 
the prevalent ill-health is due to unsanitary habits. Ina 
climate that is favorable to tropical diseases ignorance is 


eo 


In the Jorhat Industrial Department 
3l 


PrA ROP AALV FINISHING TOUCHES 


fatal and the medical missionary performs an invaluable 
service. There is a physician at each of the following 
stations: Tura; Sadiya, Impur and Kohima.” RevaGaGs 
Crozier, M.D., at Tura has succeeded in making his 
medical work self-supporting and has a good hospital and 
a trained nurse as assistant. Dr. Kirby’s hospital at 
Sadiya is also self-supporting. Rev. J. R. Bailey, M.D., 
conducts medical work at Impur and Rev. 5. W. Rivenburg, 
M.D., at Kohima. 


INDUSTRIAL TRAINING 

Industrial work has been undertaken at all the station 
schools though the department at Jorhat is by far the most 
comprehensive. The industrial training not only educates 
the boys for usefulness but gives them, as pupils, the 
opportunity to earn their support while pursuing their 
studies. It is believed that a young man who earns his 
way through school is better qualified to become an 
efficient helper among his people than one who has been 
carried through by outside help. Every phase of industry 
is taught, from carpentering to gardening. 


LITERATURE 

An obligation to furnish Christian literature rests upon 
the missionaries, for the people, as soon as they learn 
to read, read voraciously and there is an abundance of 
evil literature in some dialects. In spite of the diff- 
culties presented by the diversity of languages in Assam 
and the lack of time for such work, a goodly supply of 
Christian literature has been produced. The Bible has 
been translated and published in Assamese and parts of 
the New Testament in six other languages. Text-books 
have been printed in all of these languages and Sunday 
school literature, hymnals and periodicals are distributed. 
But much more needs to be done in producing a whole- 
some, stimulating, elevating literature for these people 
just emerging from heathenism. 


32 


BENT SHING TOUCHES IPFAS Rs Tae) Vi 


The work of the entire field, in all its departments, is 
planned and carried out by a conference of which all the 
missionaries are members. The conference meets an- 
nually for fellowship and discussion of plans and between 
the sessions appointed committees supervise and conduct 
the activities. The general feeling among the missionaries 
is that, with the present small force of workers, they can- 
not adequately cover the territory to which the Society 
has committed itself by assuming the responsibility for it. 
They are praying constantly for reenforcements. At the 
same time the work that is being undertaken is moving 
on toward success as it has from the first in Assam. The 
people of the hills are proving faithful and willing Chris- 
tians and large numbers of them are accepting the gospel 
yearly. The conversion of the outcastes of the plains 
goes on with steady progress and the Hindus and Moham- 
medans, though much more inaccessible, are loyal and 
influential Christians when they do accept Christianity. 


Baptism in Manipur 


ahs) 


STATIONS 


THE THIRTEEN STATIONS 


Gauhati (Gou-hat’-ti). Opened 1848; fourth largest town in 
Assam proper; situated on Brahmaputra river; population 12,481; 
seat of Cotton College, a government institution; work conducted 
chiefly for Assamese and Garos; boarding and day school for girls; 
important personal work for students of the college carried on. 


Goalpara (Go-al-pa’-ra). Opened 1867; unoccupied for a long 
period; reopened in 1893; Assamese, Bengalis, Rabhas and Garos 
represented; on Brahmaputra river, west of Gauhati. 


Golaghat (Go-la-ghat’). Opened 1898; located in region possessing 
some of finest tea plantations in the world; nearly all the churches 
with their own pastors and supporting evangelistic and educational 
work through their associations; primary boarding school; part of 
the Mikir work also conducted from this station. 


Impur (Impdor’). Opened 1893; located in Naga Hills, an un- 
administered tract occupied by savages between Assam and Burma; 
elevation 4000 feet; considerable medical work; training school of 
six year course with 100 boys and one girl enrolled. 


Jorhat (Jor-hat’). Opened 1903; in the plains on the Jorhat State 
Railway; home of Jorhat Christian Schools, the highest grade in- 
stitution under American Baptists in Assam. 


Kohima (K6-hé’-ma). Opened 1879; on motor road between the 
plains and Manipur, extended by bridle path to Burma; seat of 
government for entire Naga Hills District and place of considerable 
importance; station school; medical work. 


North Lakhimpur (Lak-im-pddr’). Opened 1895; north of the 
Bramaputra river, extending to foothills of the Himalayas; tea 
garden country; station school; residence of missionary conducting 
work in Darrang field 100 miles distant. 


Nowgong (Now-gong’). Opened 1841; situated about half way 
between the most eastern and most western stations; its field lying 
in the plains but extending into the Mikir Hills and Khasi Hills; 
large central school for girls with normal department and kinder- 
garten, which draws pupils from the whole Assam Mission except the 
Garos. 


Sadiya (Sa’-dé-ya). Opened 1906; first station of the Assam Mis- 
sion, opened in 1836 but abandoned soon after for many years; in 
the extreme northeast of the province on the road to one of the 
leading passes into Tibet; work for Abors and Miris, Mishmis, 
Kamptis, Singphos, Assamese and outcastes. 


34 


SiieAL DEL ORNS 


Sibsagor (Sib-saw’-gor). Opened 1841; includes Dibrugarh, the 
largest town in the plains; tea garden section and hence the residence 
of many Europeans. 

Tika (Tée-ka). Opened 1896; in the Jaintia Hills south of Now- 
gong; work for a part of Mikir tribe; small station school. 

Tura (T6d’-ra). Opened 1876; in the hills, some thirty miles back 
from the landing place on the river; seat of government for Garo 
Hill District; population of entire district, 140,000 Garos; large 
mixed Garo school enrolling 300 pupils and giving some industrial 
training; hospital, out station and dispensaries. 

Ukhrul (Oo-kr6dl’). Opened 1896; in southeast corner of Assam in 
nominally independent state of Manipur; Tangkhuls, Kukis and other 
tribes in the hills, Manipuris in the plains; missionary obliged by 
government to live outside the state and works only among two tribes 
of hills people; station school. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


A Corner in India By Mary MEAD CLARK. 

An intensely interesting tale of pioneer work among the savages 
of the Naga Hills, written by the wife of the first mis- 
sionary to them. Book. 

Under the Roof of the World By Rev. SAMUEL A. PERRINE. 

A brief, comprehensive review of the country, customs of the 
people, etc. Pamphlet. 

Victory of the Cross in the Jungles of Assam spy Mrs. WALTER 

C. Mason. 
An illustrated booklet dealing exclusively with the Garo tribes. 

The Gospel Among the Garos. 

A shorter account of Garo work. Leaflet. 

A Night in a Jungle Village ny G. G. Crozirr, M.D. 
Number three of the Missionary Episodes. Pamphlet. 

Assam Conference Reports. 
Complete review of the year’s work in the whole field with 
articles of general interest from the missionaries, and statistics. 
Published annually. 

Annual Report of the Society. 

Containing a section devoted to Assam. 

Handbook of the Society. 

Containing a review of the stations of every field, names of all 
missionaries, etc. 


MISSIONARIES 


MISSIONARIES TO ASSAM 
Complete to May 1, 1917 
Abbreviations: m., married; * deceased while in service; + retired 
from the mission and still living (1917); ft retired from the mission 
and since deceased; ** under appointment. 


NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL 
*Amy, Miss Laura A. (m. Rev. J M. Ne oie » 4 a 2 LS OO 
Bailey, Rev. James Riley . . eo. 2s LOND 
*Barker, Rev: Cyrus’) 2 . A cee Se eS LO) 
tBarker, Mrs. Jane Weston 97. 5.2 0 2 1) 2 ees Os 
Boggs, ‘Rev cose Dee b yet sys ae oF tan Seo) ee rr Soe 
Boggs, Mrs. Isadore Whitney Tren const: 5 | GY 
Bondy Macs Bilas Care Mr are TSE 
Bowers, Rey. A. ©: Lo ed 3 SOU 
Bowers, Mts. Florence G. Hull. . we ow ae oO 


{Brandt, Miss Anna V. (m. Rev. R. Maplesden, of South India) 1881 
*Bronson, Rev. Miles (m. Mrs. F. A. S. Danforth; Miss Mary 


1D), Rankin) a: ete 2 2 » 2 S37 
*Bronson, Mrs. Ruth M. Lucas... YON en il LOO 
*Bronson, Miss Rhoda Mist ns-%. 2 = othe Vn LO 
*Bronson, Miss Marta, 2. 8ers. ne te, A 
*Brown, Rev. Nathan... 5 ioe Wome oo abe LS oO 
tBrown, Mrs. Eliza W. Ballard . . . kn SES O 
{Burdette, Rev. C. E. (m. Miss Miriam Russell) |. ee eeeeLSS3 
Carter, Miss Omie Eleanore . . . a A el OSE 
Carvell, Rev. J. M. (m. Miss Laura iN Amy) on ek SOE 
Carvell, Mrs. Alice M. Parker . . . Yo = ES SS 
“Chana, Rev. E. W. . se ky ee ee ES nc 
+Clark, Mrs. Mary Mead “i 0.14 ee 
{Comfort; Reva M. Bie 2 <8 ee eS Ot 
tComfort, Mrs. Jennie E. 1866 
tCraighead, Rev. James (m. Miss Ida M. Kushmore, of Burma) 1893 
ees Mire lca Vee he ae! ee a ESOS 
Crisenberry, Miss Edith Estélla o.oo 
Crozier, ReverGs GM ere i ee LE 
Crozier, Mrs. Mabel Bosworth .. 4) 2. asa pS 
tCutter, "Mr. O. T. ; oe 6 bon avehe 5 eee 
tCutter, Mrs. Harriet Bi LOW a, 1s ate 1836 
= Dantortaievar Ace sae 1847 
*Danforth, Mrs. Frances A. Studley (m. Rev. Miles s Bronson) 1847 
+ Daniels, Miss Lolie (m. Rev. A. J. Parker) . . 1896 
*Dauble, Rev. G. (m. Miss M. S. tae . Gos 3 SRS oO 
+Dickson, IRews dil, 1B, 4 ‘ een. SI 


36 


MISSIONARIES 


NAME 
{Dickson, Mrs. Eleanor A. McAfee 
Doe, Miss Florence Helen 
Dowd, Ie Wo 1S 
Dowd, Mrs. Muriel A. “Massey 
Dring, Rev. William Lown s 
Dring, Mrs. Esther Stannard 
ici Weve |Ohny. . 
Firth, Mrs. Ida L. W ebster 
Fox, Rev. Url Morris . : 
Fox, Mrs. Nellie F. Hollis . . 
+Gaylord, Ella M. (m. W. H. H. For! yes) . 
eaimevemiNe var Na Kom nc ’ ; 
tGurney, Mrs. Mary F. Laurence 
tHaggard, Rev. Fred P. ; 
jHaggard, Mrs. Fannie L. Snow 
tHallam, Rev. A. A.. . 
tHallam, Mrs. Rachel T hompson 
arcdine Rev. EW. . ; 
Harding, Mrs. Nellie N. Hurd . 
Hay, Miss Elizabeth Ellen 
Holbrook, Miss Linnie M. 
Holmes, Miss Ella Marie 
Jackman, Rev. L. W. B. Te 
Jackman, Mrs. Susie D. Ransom . 
Kampfer, Rev. George Richard 
Kampfer, Mrs. Emma E. Kose 


DATE OF ARRIVAL 


*Keeler, Miss Orrell C. (m. Rev. M. Ce Mason) ). 


{Keith, Rev. T. Ae 

Keith, Mrs. Pollie A. . . 
jKing, Rev. C. D. (m. Miss ‘Anna M. Sweet) . 
Kirby, H. W., M.D. (transferred from Africa) 
Kirby, Mrs. Mary E. Reeves 
TKlein, Rev. F. W. . : 

jtKlein, Mrs. Jennie J. Lounsbury ; 

Long, Miss Anna BE. . . ‘ 

Longwell, Rev. R. B. . 

Longwell, Mrs. Bernie Ballentine . 


Loops, W. A., M.D. (m. Miss E. Viney | Preston, of So. India) 


{Loops, Mrs. E. Vincy Preston . 

Mason, Rev. M. C. (m. Miss Orrell C. ‘Keeler; 
Purssell) . 
*Mason, Mrs. Fidelia Howes : 

*Mason, Mrs. Clara M. Arthur . 

IMS ONEINe WAI Wis Gat 2 5) < F 


(se) 
~I 


Miss Nettie 


1901 
1911 
1900 
1900 
1890 
1890 
1893 
1898 
1911 
1911 
1874 
1874 
1877 
1893 
1893 
1891 
1891 
1907 
1907 
1914 
1906 
1910 
1904 
1904. 
1910 
1910 
1875 
1872 
1872 
1878 
1907 
1907 
1890 
1890 
1900 
1906 
1906 
1905 
1906 


1874 
1874 
1884 
1902 


MISSIONARIES 


NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL 


Mason, Mrs. Florence N. Smith 
+Mason, Miss Stella H. 
Mather, Asher King. 
Mather, Mrs. Ruth E. Delzell 
Miller, Miss EllaG. . . iby Sites AF oe: 
Moore, Rev. P. E. (m. Miss C. E. Purssell) 
*Moore, Rev. P. H. . one ane: 
Moore, Mrs. Jessie Traver : ; 
+Morgan, Miss Henrietta (m. Mr. Gwylym Herbert) 
7 Mianigver, Rev. Ie. 
*Munger, Mrs. Helen W. Ankeney 
Neighbor, Rev. R. E. . 
tNeighbor, Mrs. Anna M. ‘Beale 2 eee 
ater Rev. A. J. a Miss Lolie Daniels: Miss Alberta 
Sumner) . . re eee Ot 
Paul, Rev. Joseph . ; 
aul, Mrs. Clara E. Cox 
+Perrine, Reve SAL: 
{Perrine, Mrs. Rosie L. 
jeetick Reva Cara 
*Petrick, Mrs. Clara Stengel 
Pettigrew, Rev. William 
Pettigrew, Mrs. Alice Goreham 
Phillips, Reva Coe : 
Phillips, Mrs. Ella V. Howey 2 6G eee ee 
Protzman, Miss Helen M. (m. S. W. Rivenburg) . 
Purssell, Miss Nettie (m. Rev. M. C. Mason) 
*Purssell, Miss Charlotte E. (m. Rev. P. E. Moore) 
*Rankin, Miss Mary D. (m. Rev. Miles Bronson) . 
Rivenburg, INGA 74 So WWicg MILID, Tir trnes? ¢ 
*Rivenburg, Mrs. Hattie E. Tiffany . 
TRobb, Miss N. Agnes . 
tRood, Miss Alice J. . 
tRussell, Miss Miriam (m. Rev. C ‘E. Burdette) 
*Scott, Rev. E. P. 
+Scott, Mrs. Anna H. Kay, ‘M.D. (appointed to China in 1889) 
tShaw, Miss M. S. (m. Rev. G. Daul ae 4 
jomuth, Rey, Wa] : : 
Smith, Mrs. Enid Severy, Ss 
Sugolagim, INGW, Ne IB. 
Stephen, Mrs. Maggie Sutherland | 
tStoddard, Rev. I. J. Pa 
iSreddard. Mrs. Drusilla Allen NO Pha Bot 
“Sumner, Miss Alberta (m. Rev. A. J. Parker) 


38 


=P 


MISSIONARIES 


NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL 
Swanson, Rev.O. L. . eh eee aa ee SOS 
Swanson, Mrs. Emelia H. Wenberg . ; 6 Eg eee cee, ESOS 
jSweet, Miss Anna M. (Gal, IRE, TC AD King) eS eae ee bab 
‘(Panacithisin, INGWe Wedoe e ; fae oe a yt, LE 
Tanquist, Mrs. Mabel C eWicboon. 5 o4 eee ee se teeOTo 
*Thomas, Rev. Jacob . safc o on. SEIS 
tThomas, Mrs. Sarah M. Willsey (mn. “Rev. S. M. Osgood, of 

Burma) . ; es Oe ater S30 
Tilden, Rev. Charles H. . Oe ee es re aap eee ee O09 
**Tilden, Mrs. Grace B. Darling. riage a 
+Tolman, IRews Ee IBS SS ag Re ee Re Sh ee Che cose Paltetinsy 
tTolman, Mrs. Mary R. Bronco tere ote ocak hcter, Wir eae 858 
stile: Reva An |. = Aa ee eee OL 
Tuttle, Mrs. Frances Ke Dav Taconiats Lee ae Meee 901 
Vickland, Miss Bilen Elizabeth, 2. 4. 9. 7 1. eee OL 
*Ward, Rev. William . . on SR ee » - » LEO 
*Ward, Mrs. Cordelia S. Hee Oren bane et ape Oe eet 850 
“WieumGl, IMIS, COubisehal IRS ISS 4 5 6 5 ob ue an oo 5 a Hecke’) 
+Wherrett, Mist Gertrudege aes emis ee he) ee ee 900 
tWhiting, Rev.S. M. . ee UN oe 8k EL OOU 
tWhiting, Mrs. Elizabeth iti cap Da pe ee O50) 
NViticonm Vinsstlsabellagnumw ages shel ons = ee eee SOS 
Witter, Reva rely el) ORE ae el awe ah ee LOR: 
INN Gamer, IMiS, Milekaye JN, DRIES Ga 8 oe 6 5 5 6 8 o pe of plete! 
Witter, Mrs. Mary F. Barss . . . ee an. O12 
TYates, "Miss Nora M. (aa, Ihe, IP, Ge Turner) We Bee os AUeeRe 


39 


IN 


DEX 


Index 


Part I. GENERAL SURVEY 
Location 
Topography . 
Position F 
Origin of people 
Population 
Industry 
Climate . 
Languages 

Part II. THE Lanne AND THE 
Area . . é 
Physical features 
Religions . . 
Habits of people 
Appearance 


'Peopen 


IP INE Hr ercen OF EN irccrone 


First missionaries 

First station . 

An early tragedy . . 

Beginnings in the hills 

First hill missionary 
Part IV. PRESENT WorRK 

Baptist stations . . 

Work in the plains . 


Hindus and Mohammedans 5 


Outcastes . . : 
Work in the hills 
Garosiae 

Rabhas . 

Mikirs 

Nagas. ‘ 
Abors, Miris and others 
Evangelism 

Education . 

Medical work 
Industrial training 
Literature . 

Summary . 


List OF STATIONS 
BIBLIOGRAPHY E 
List oF MISSIONARIES 


40 


WIM OO A” 


OR additional literature or other 
informatton regarding the work 
of the American Baptist Foreign 
Mission Society, write to any of 
the following: 
The District Secretary of your 
district. 
Department of Missionary Educa- 
tion, 23 East 26th Street, New 
York City. 
Literature Department, Box 41, 
Boston, Mass. 


Price of this book, 10 cents 


70-3 M -5-1-1917. 


